History of the Friendship Festival

Welcome to the Animal Jam Sky Blog!

Today is Saturday, February 11th, 2017.

As I mentioned on Thursday, this post will be very different because it is all about the History of the Friendship Festival. That means no new items to report on today, I will post about them tomorrow.

The Friendship Festival is one of the biggest holidays on Animal Jam, behind the Jamaalidays and Night of the Phantoms. During this celebration, Jammers dress up in red and pink clothing, go to the Friendship Festival party, buy heart-shaped items, send Jam-A-Grams, and go on the Special Delivery Adventure. Every February Jammers have a blast celebrating buddies and love! If you haven't noticed, it is based off of the real holiday known as Valentine's Day. Let's go back to the beginning and go through time looking at the Friendship Festival each year on Animal Jam:

2011: Friendship Festival Begins

In 2011, the Friendship Festival began. It all began: new decorations, new Jamaa Journal, and new items. It was time to celebrate friendship...

The first page of the Jamaa Journal released February 3, 2011 is the only artifact left of this Jamaa Journal. Unfortunately, the next eight pages are lost in time. I would have really loved to see the next pages. At this time, not many people played the Animal Jam, so the Friendship Festival was not as widely-known and celebrated. Classic Friendship Festival items, such as the Heart Capes, Heart Balloon, Rose Bouquet, Heart Chocolates, Pink Chest, Pink Crystals, and the Heart Glasses, were first introduced.
Friendship Fact: The Friendship Festival did not come out in the Beta Days because the Beta Days began late in the year and were finished before February came around.

2012: Valentine Jam-A-Grams

The following year, in 2012, Jamaa got the spirit of the Friendship Festival. This is the year where many Friendship Festival items returned and some new ones came out, including Heart Antenna Headbands.

AJHQ also held its first Friendship Jam-A-Gram Contest where Jammers design the next Valentine Jam-A-Gram. To summarize this Friendship Festival year in two words, I would have to say Valentine Jam-A-Grams. This is when it became popular to send out Jam-A-Grams in February.

2013: Printable Valentines

The third year of the Friendship Festival brought on another contest. This time it was an art contest to see who could draw their Best Animal Jam Buddy. Items, such as Heart Earmuffs were introduced. Also, 2013 was the year of the printable Valentines. Now jammers can actually print off Animal Jam Valentine's and give them out in person. I bet this was a great way to spread the word about the virtual world, while telling a friend you love them!

2014: New Friendship Items

In 2014, the Friendship Festival was not as advertised by AJHQ. Many jammers were focused on the new Birds of Paradise party where you could find birds in your Journey Book and win a prize. However, some items did come out this year, including Cupid Wings, Heart Scarves, Left and Right Friendship Necklaces, Rose Garland, the Heart Welcome Mat, Heart Pathway, the Heart Table, the Heart Tree,  and the Heart Window. Unfortunately, this was the last year the famous Heart Locket was released.
Friendship Fact: The Friendship Party changed its look after this year! It added new items, and usually changes every year since.

2015: Special Delivery and Armor

The year of 2015 was huge for the Friendship Festival because it saw its first and only Friendship Festival adventure: Special Delivery! Jammers quickly ran all over Jamaa to deliver Jam-A-Grams to win prizes in this fun and short adventure. Also, the animated Friendship Armor set was introduced. This 5-piece set has been available in the Diamond Shop every year since. Friendship items like Heart Rings, Heart Boots, Heart Windows, and the Heart Target were released.

2016: Friendship Cottage

In 2016, the Friendship Cottage was released to the public. Many jammers took the opportunity to buy this den, and switch to this den every February. I personally think this cottage makes a great place to make Valentine's Day Cards and play with buddies. The Heart Hat and the Heart Jewelry Box were just two of a set of new items to hit this wave of the Friendship Festival.

2017: Friendship Festival Lives On

Today, the Friendship Festival lives on to Animal Jam's legacy. Now, better than every, Jammers celebrate with tons of new items, adventure, den, and more content. We are already seeing new items like the Heart Wreath hitting stores. I know I love celebrating the holidays in Jamaa, and I hope you do too! Celebrate the 7th Year of the Friendship Festival. There you have it, Jammers, a History of the Friendship Festival.

Blu Comic Issue

Just because this post is different, doesn't mean there won't be a Blu Issue!

Here is the Blu Issue of the Week...

In Blu the Monkey Issue #67: "Alpha Headquarters", Blu finds a familiar friend and a new place to scout out his missions and adventures to find the kidnapped and once again save Jamaa!

Click here to read it or click the image above!

Sky News

Tomorrow is the LAST DAY to enter the Friendship Festival Art Contest...

Click above to see how to enter and win!

The Friendship Festival Giveaway Comment-A-Thon is in full swing...

Yesterday's Winner: Graciepopstar91
Comment on this post for a chance to win a FREE prize!

Have Fun and Happy Jamming!